Holder for books and the like



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' attornegs y 1954 L. E. LOWENSTEIN, JR 2,684, 65

HOLDER FOR BOOKS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 9, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3nnentor Louis E. ZoWei/sfe/h. J/r

(Ittornegs Patented July 27, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to holders for books and the like and more particularly to a holder that is adjustable for accommodating and supporting in upright position a plurality of different sized books of different thickness.

The objects of the invention are to provide a holder for supporting a plurality of books, magazines, phonograph records, leaflets and the like, closely in place in upright position between end members constituting part of the holder; to provide a holder structure in which the end members are slidable toward and away from each other on a base to adjustably position the end members in engagement with the books and the like therebetween; to provide interengaging means on the end members and base whereby pressure on either of the end members tending to move same apart will tilt the respective end members relative to the base and cause frictional contact therebetween to firmly retain the end members against movement; to provide the end members with lugs and the base with slots suitably arranged for cooperation with the lugs in selectively retaining the end members slidably mounted on the base or permitting disassembly of same; to provide the end members with resilient members adapted to resiliently engage the base for increasing the frictional contact tending to retain the end members in selected position; and to provide a holder structure for books and the like which is economical to manufacture, adapted to be formed of plastic materials and is easily assembled and operated.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a book holder constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a disassembled perspective view of the end members and base of the book holder.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the book holder with the bottom panel removed from the base and the lugs on one of the end members broken away to illustrate the portions thereof extending through the slots in the base.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the book holder on the line 44, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view of the base with an end member thereon, portions of the end member being broken away to illustrate a modified form of spring therein engaging the base.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

l designates a holder for books and the like and includes a base 2 of more or less ornamental design and adapted to be formed of plastic or other suitable material whereby the holder can be placed on a desk, table or other suitable support. The base preferably consists of a top wall 3 having a flat, upper face 4 and a downwardly and outwardly sloping peripheral wall 5, which extends below the top wall 3 sufficiently to form a housing for the operative parts of the holder. Also extending downwardly from the top wall are suitable ribs 6 and bosses i to reinforce the base structure and distribute stresses resulting from molding or other forming operations whereby the respective walls may be relatively thin. A depending boss 8 is preferably centrally located on the top wall 3 and is provided with coaxial bores 9 for mounting a lamp fixture or other devices having various utility and ornamental appearance to enhance the structure.

The bottom of the base is preferably enclosed by a panel l9 engaging the bosses l and having its marginal edges H engaging a shoulder 12 adjacent the lower edge of the peripheral wall 5 whereby the lower face I3 of the panel i0 is substantially in the same plane as the lower edge of said peripheral wall 5. The panel [0 is secured to the base by fastening devices such as screws 54 having threaded shanks I5 extending through apertures 16 in the panel and into threaded bores I! in selected bosses l. Felt or other suitable cushioning material i8 is preferably secured to the lower face [3 of the panel I0 whereby the base may rest on finished surfaces such as desks or tables without marring same.

The top wall 3 has slots l9 and 20 extending longitudinally of the base from adjacent the boss 8 as at 2| and terminating as at 22 in spaced relation to the peripheral wall 5 at the ends of the base, the slots I9 and 20 being in alignment and preferably on the longitudinal center of the base structure. Each of the slots [9 and 20 is preferably provided with oppositely disposed notches 23 extending into each side of the respective slots at the inner ends thereof and also oppositely disposed notches 24 spaced from the notches 23 whereby the notches 23 and 24 are suitably arranged for assembly of bookend members 25 and 26 on the base as later described.

Ribs 2'! and 28 extend downwardly from the top Wall 3 and coincide with the slots it and 20 and the notches 23 and 24 to reinforce the top wall around said slots. The ribs 2'l and 28 terminate in flat lower faces 29 spaced from the bottom panel ill sufiiciently for movement of operative parts therein.

Bookend members 25 and 26 are mounted to slide on the upper surface l of the top wall 3 of the base. The bookends preferably are of ornamental design and adapted to be formed of plastic or other suitable material. In the illustrated structure the bookends are so arranged as to have the appearance of considerable thickness and are made hollow with an open bottom 30 for reducing the weight and the quantity of material required therefor. Each of the bookends has substantially fiat front or book engaging walls 3! and ornamental rear walls 52 suitably connected by arcuate portions at the side and top edges of said front wall. The bottom edges 1-23 and it of the front and rear walls 35 and 32 respectively are preferably so arranged that when said bottom edges are slidably engaged with the face '1 of the top wall 3 of the base, the wall 3! of the bookends slopes forwardly whereby there is greater spacing between the adjacent faces of the respective bookends at the lower portion thereof than at the upper portion of said bookends.

Spaced depending portions 35 and 36 are arranged on each of the bookends whereby said portions extend into the slots 39 and 2d, the width of said portions being such that the side faces 3'! thereof slidably engage the sides of the respective slots. In the structure illustrated it is preferable that the portion 35 depend from or adjacent the front wall 35 and the portion 3E- depend from or adjacent the rear wall 32. Each of the depending portions 35 and Cit is provided with laterally extending lugs 38 of suitable size to pass through the notches 23 and 2G, said lugs being so located that when the depending portions 35 and 36 extend through the slots is and 2G and the bookends have been moved to position said portions in spaced relation to the notches, the upper faces of said lugs engage the lower face 29 of the ribs 2i and 28 to retain said bcokends assembled on the base. It is preferable that the depending portions 35 and have a different relative spacing than the longitudinal spacing of the notches in the respective slots as illustrated in Fig. 3 whereby the lugs must be aligned with one set of notches and the bookends tilted to move said lugs therethrough and then the bookends moved to align the other lugs with the other set of notches in order to disassemble the bookends from the base. With this arrangement, pressure by books or the like tends to tilt the bookends rearwardly effecting engagement of the bottom edge of the rear wall with the face t of the base and the lugs on the depending portion 35 with he face 29 of the ribs 2'! and 28, creating a frictional contact at said points of engagement which firmly hold the bookends in selected position.

To provide further friction and control of movement of the bookends resilient members 39 are suitably mounted on the respective bookends whereby the resilient members have resilient engagement with the face lof the top wall 3 of the base. In the structure illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, a rib id is arranged on the inner surface of the front wall 35 and said rib provided with a groove 4! for receiving an upright portion 42 of the wire spring or resilient member 39, the groove preferably being closed by heat scaling to retain the upright portion rigidly in the bookend. The lower end of the resilient member is preferably curved rearwardly and upwardly as at it to provide an arcuate surface engaging the face 4 of the base.

In the form shown in Fig. 5, a spring M is secured to the bookend and preferably the front wall thereof and has upwardly diverging portions 45 terminating in downwardly and outwardly extending portions 45 which terminate in upwardly curved portions 5! adapted to resiliently engage the upper face 4 of the top wall 3 of the base. The resilient members tend to maintain the lugs 38 in engagement with the lower faces 29 of the ribs 2'] and 28 to create frictional contact for resisting movement of the bookends relative to the base. The particular structure is such that is is adapted to be shipped knocked down and easily assembled by a user.

In assembling a holder for books and the like constructed as described, the lugs 38 on the downwardly extending portion 36 of a bookend member are aligned with the notches 24 and moved therethrough to position same in alignment with the lower face 29 of the ribs 2'! and 28. The end member is then moved longitudinally of the slot to align the lugs 38 on the downwardly extending portion 35 with the notches 23 and said lugs moved through the notches to position same in alignment with the lower face 29 of the ribs 27 and 28. This compresses the spring 39 whereby it resiliently engages the top wall 3, holding the upper faces of the lugs 38 in engagement and frictional contact with the faces 29 of the ribs 21 and 38. The end member may then be moved longitudinally of the respective slot. The other bookend memher is assembled in like manner in the other slot. The holder is then in condition to be placed on a suitable support and books or the like arranged between the bookends. After a desired number of books is placed between the bookends, said bookends are moved longitudinally of the slots to engage the books or the like and due to the slope of the bookends and particularly the front wall 3! engaging the books, pressure exerted by the books tends to tilt the bookends and increase the frictional contact between the upper face of the lugs 33 on the downwardly extending portion 35 and the contact of the lower edge 34 of the rear wall 32 with the upper face t of the top wall 3. This frictional contact firmly holds the respective bookends in selected position and retains the books or the like in an upright condition.

It is believed obvious that I have provided an improved holder for books and the like which is economical to manufacture with an attractive appearance and is easy to assemble and operate.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A. holder for books and the like comprising, a base having an elongated top wall elevated from a supporting surface, said top wall having aligned narrow longitudinal slots extending from adjacent the ends of said wall toward the center thereof, the ends of said slots being closed, said top wall having longitudinally spaced pairs of notches extending laterally from the slots, a pair of hollow open bottom upright end members slidably mounted on the top wall and having front and rear walls connected at the top and sides, the front walls having fiat cuter faces adapted to engage books and the like arranged between the end members, depending portions on the front and rear walls of each of the end members and extending through and slidably engaging the sides of the respective slots, lugs extending laterally of the depending portions and adapted to be aligned with and pass through the notches whereby the top wall is between and engaged by the lower edges of the front and rear walls of the end members and lugs, and resilient members fixed on the front walls of the end members and resiliently engaging the top wall adjacent the slots to retain the lugs in engagement with said top wall, whereby the engagement of the lower edges of the front and rear walls of the end members, lugs and resilient members with the top Wall creates frictional contact tending to retain the end members in selected position relative to the base.

2. A holder for books and the like comprising, a base having an elongated top wall elevated from a supporting surface, said top wall having aligned narrow longitudinal slots extending from adjacent the ends of said wall toward the center thereof, the ends of said slots being closed, said top wall having longitudinally spaced pairs of notches extending laterally from the slots, de pending ribs on the top wall at the marginal edges of the slots and notches and spaced from the base supporting surface, a pair of hollow open bottom upright end members slidably mounted on the top wall and having front and rear walls connected at the top and sides, the front walls having flat outer faces adapted to engage books and the like arranged between said end members, depending portions on the front and rear walls of each of the end members and extending through and slidably engaging the sides of the respective slots, lugs extending laterally of the depending portions and adapted to be aligned with and pass through the notches whereby the top Wall is engaged by the lower edges of the front and rear walls of the end members and the lugs engage the depending ribs, the book engaging outer faces of the front walls of said end members sloping upwardly and toward the books or the like located between the end members whereby pressure on the end members exerted by the books tilts the end members increasing the friction and locking contact of the lugs and lower edges of the end members with the ribs and top wall respectively, and resilient members fixed to the end members and resiliently engaging the top wall adjacent the slots to increase the frictional contact of the lugs with the ribs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,051,108 Hemstreet Jan. 21, 1913 1,336,982 Sohimmel Apr. 13, 1920 1,674,359 Frey June 19, 1928 2,491,409 "Bloom June 4, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,924 Great Britain 1891 265.325 Germany Jan. 28, 1908 

